This museum grade fine art photograph is available in a fine art limited edition of 200, signed and numbered with a signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance.
Spirit of the Glen - Spirit Falls, Little White Salmon River and Columbia River Gorge in Washington
Spirit Falls, Little White Salmon River, Columbia River Gorge, Washington
Spirit Falls and the Little White Salmon River in the Spring on the Washington Side of the Columbia River Gorge
The turquoise waters of Spirit Falls flow 33 feet over the basalt cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge as the crystal clear waters of the 19 mile long Little White Salmon River descend through the narrow forest canyon towards the Columbia River below. Spirit Falls is a plunge type waterfall dropping into a deep plunge pool, and the Columbia River Gorge basalt it flows over is from the Columbia River Basalt Group, some of the most extensive lava flows in North America.
The extraordinary turquoise color of the Little White Salmon River comes not from glacial flour, as the river has no glacier source, but from dissolved calcium carbonate crystals filtered through limestone and basalt as groundwater feeds the river's springs. These microscopic calcite particles scatter blue and green wavelengths of light while red and yellow are absorbed, creating the vivid turquoise color. The dark basalt canyon walls amplify the effect, acting as a natural black backdrop that makes the glowing water appear even more vivid. Spirit Falls' flow rate can vary by season, though the vertical plunge type waterfall has an average flow rate of approximately 400 cubic feet per second (CFS) and is runnable for kayakers when the flow range is between approximately 200-800 CFS.
In 1986 as part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area designation by Congress, Spirit Falls and the Little White Salmon River canyon were protected via the National Scenic Area Act to safeguard the scenic area from development. However, access on foot is prohibited as of early 2023 by SDS Lumber Company, as the steep unofficial trail down to the falls crosses approximately 250 feet of land near the bottom of the trail owned by them since November 2021. A consortium of companies owned by Green Diamond Resource Company acquired SDS Lumber, and in early 2023 Green Diamond restricted access across their land. Remarkably, the majority of the trail crosses public land owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, it's only this final 250 foot private section of land the trail crosses that blocks all public access.
The trail itself is steep, with an elevation drop of over 800 feet down a 42.5% slope consisting of talus rock (confirmed by my Gaia GPS track years before the closure of access to the waterfall). The trail was about 0.8 miles round trip, and was challenging and dangerous due to the aforementioned steep angled talus slope, especially challenging when hauling a large Gitzo Mountaineer tripod with a 3-way pan and tilt head plus a 40 lbs backpack of camera gear down with you. If you slip, there's not much keeping you from tumbling all the way to the bottom, and final access to river level in the canyon as seen here often required bringing a rope to tie off so you could lower yourself down to the river level in the canyon without slipping and falling (and to safely get back up and out of the canyon).
Even though access to Spirit Falls is now restricted, I am grateful I was able to visit here many times in the years before its closure. I've lived about 90 minutes away from this spot for over 4 decades and I grew up hiking these magical places in the gorge with my Dad. I'll always cherish the time I was able to spend here before its closure in early 2023, especially since Dad has now passed on. It's a place I won't ever forget. Spirit Falls was easily one of the most beautiful places I have ever laid eyes on, and if I close my eyes I can still take myself back to this magical forest glen that feels as if it's straight out of the forests of Heaven.
This image is available as a luxury museum-grade limited edition fine art print, part of James Mead's rare pre-closure documentation of Spirit Falls before public access was permanently restricted in 2023.
Another World: Spirit Falls and the Magic of the Columbia River Gorge
This is easily one of the most beautiful sights I've ever laid eyes on. It takes work to get to, as the short "trail" takes you down a nearly 42.5% slope nearly 800 feet (calculated using my Gaia GPS track). It's a talus slope, so there's loose rock mixed in and there's not much preventing you from tumbling down to the bottom if you slip except a few trees mixed in on the way down (good traction shoes and hiking poles are strongly recommended). Once you reach the bottom, it's as if you've entered another world. The color of the water is pure turquoise, something that truly has to be seen to believe as it weaves its way through this magical forest glen. It's as if you've left earth, swept away to magical lands straight out of a fairytale. Time simply stands still here. The turquoise water flows through the narrow canyon as the soft greens of the forest surround you above. Nature is always beautiful, but at times its beauty is so jaw dropping you simply stand in awe at the wonders in front of you. Scenes like this are a true moment of peace and serenity. Everything else in the world fades away, and for those brief few moments everything is perfect as you marvel at the beauty of this magic forest glen.
To see some of my work of the Little White Salmon River Chaos Class V rapid below Spirit Falls, please see Spillway and Liquid Lace.
To view some of my other photos of Spirit Falls on the Little White Salmon River, please see Eye Candy, Jolly Rancher, Liquid Turquoise, Everything Imagined, Mystic Emerald and Escape Reality.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II USM
- Settings: 31mm | f/11 | 0.8 Seconds | ISO 100
- Process: Single Exposure | In-Camera Long Exposure (The Mead Method) | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management (Manual Masking to preserve fine detail and raw data integrity)
Historical Note - The Closure of Access to Spirit Falls
This photograph was captured in April 2021, prior to the November 17, 2021 sale of the land historically owned by the Broughton Lumber Company. SDS Lumber Co., the primary landowner at the time, was acquired by a consortium consisting of Wilkins, Kaiser & Olsen, Inc. (WKO) and Twin Creeks Timber LLC (a Green Diamond Resource Company venture). Following the transition, longstanding public access to Spirit Falls was officially terminated in January 2023 due to liability and land management concerns. This image represents a rare documentation of a landscape that is no longer accessible under current regulations.
Note on Provenance - The Beauty of Spirit Falls from River Level
Captured using the single exposure workflow of the "Mead Method," developed over 15 years of fine art landscape experience. This image preserves a genuine, single moment in time executed entirely in the field without the use of composites, sky swaps, or generative AI. Just a single moment in time, preserved.
Photo © copyright by James Mead.
Chromaluxe® Metal Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Vibrant. Modern. Impactful.
My Chromaluxe® Metal Fine Art Prints offer a sleek, modern presentation that’s both bold and beautiful. Using a high-heat dye sublimation process, each image is infused directly into a specially coated aluminum panel resulting in vibrant colors, ultra-sharp detail, and a striking glossy finish. The dye sublimation process infuses the image directly into the metal, creating a scratch resistant surface while helping provide permanent protection.
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• Float mount backing for a frameless, floating display. Ready to hang out of the box
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
These metal prints are ideal for collectors seeking a contemporary look with museum-quality output. Resistant to scratch, moisture and UV fading, they work beautifully in both home and office settings.
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Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Museum-Grade Brilliance. Gallery-Worthy Depth.
Bring home the brilliance of nature with the industry’s finest print medium. My Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints are crafted using a state-of-the-art process that infuses archival pigments into a transparency layer, backed by a clear acrylic backer and mounted under crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic. This creates a luminous, almost 3D effect. Colors appear to glow from within.
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• Incredible depth and clarity, fine details leap off the wall
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• 1/8" clear acrylic backer mounted using an archival adhesive layer
• 1.25” Roma wooden rear float mount frame inset 2” from the edge for a clean, frameless display that is ready to hang
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether you're designing a luxury interior or curating a personal gallery, these prints are built to impress and designed to last a lifetime.
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Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Museum-Quality Ready to Hang
Timeless elegance. Unrivaled depth. A true centerpiece.
My Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints represent the pinnacle of archival display. These statement pieces combine the award-winning brilliance of Lumachrome HD with the craftsmanship of custom Roma wood mouldings, transforming your chosen image into an heirloom-worthy work of art.
Each piece is handcrafted by master printmakers and framers in the USA using museum-grade materials. The print itself is infused with archival pigments into a transparency layer, mounted to an archival acrylic backer and face-mounted and sealed under a 1/8" layer of crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic: a premium optically-coated surface that eliminates reflections and enhances depth, vibrance, and clarity.
Surrounding this luminous presentation is your choice of genuine Roma Moulding, hand-built with a choice of 3.5" or 4" Italian made wooden Roma frame with a 3" black linen liner for a refined, framed, museum grade appearance. This adds approximately 13 to 14 inches to both the height and width of the final piece. This level of finish is rarely seen outside of luxury interiors and gallery exhibitions.
After placing your order, I’ll reach out personally to confirm your ideal frame and liner pairing from my curated Roma collection. If you’d prefer to finalize your framing choice in advance, feel free to reach out any time for a custom recommendation.
These museum grade works of art feature:
• Gallery-grade presentation with luminous depth and 3D effect
• TruLife® acrylic: anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and blocks 99% of UV
• Archival quality construction with pH-neutral adhesive and backer
• Available in your choice of 3.5" or 4" Roma wood mouldings with a black linen liner for a framed, museum-grade appearance
• Museum-grade 3" black linen liner for added depth and visual separation
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 4-5 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether displayed in a luxury residence, corporate lobby, or fine art collection, these framed prints command attention and offer a sense of permanence few art mediums can match.
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These are investment-grade art pieces designed to last generations. If you have any questions, need any mock-ups or if you need anything else before purchase, please reach out and I will be in contact shortly.